Mission Higher Education: The Saga Unfinished

This is the third month of our team's rigorous hard work. We are working to streamline the internal assessment method, the grading system and semester system as per the recommendations of the National Knowledge Commission (UGC) and the University Grants Commission (UGC). In order to make Indian universities 'world class institutions' the two major institutions have recommended large scale reforms in the higher education system continuing for the last forty years. Implementation of the grading system and semester system were two such changes. Keeping its commitment working as per the guidelines of the UGC, our university also took this initiative.
It is necessary to look at the background of our university. The university was following a mixed evaluation system as well as a semester cum yearly evaluation method. The system proved highly expensive as well as inefficient. The system was neither taking care of the students' needs nor it was making it a feasible system for the university faculty. In fact, the faculties were not involved in any effective sense. To make the system more student friendly and ensuring full faculty participation in the evaluation system, the university introduced the grading system. At present all successful educational institutions like the IITs, IIMs, JNU, CUH etc are following a fully internal assessment based grading system. 
However, the change has not been a smooth affair. A quick switch over from a conventional system to a new system brought the faculty unrest. In addition to this there was no clarity of philosophy behind how the system has evolved. What are the basics of the internal evaluation, which was suspected to bring more the element of subjectivity, as compare to the external evaluation advocated on the logic of objectivity. What made the whole process really troublesome was unavailability of any document related to this system. Moreover, there are no guidelines related to the relative evaluation, a right mix of subjectivity and objectivity which are the basics of the grading system, internal and continuous evaluation system.
The institutions like IITs and IIMs can do it since they have required infrastructure, technical skills as well as the expertise. However in case of universities which do not have the wherewithal cannot do that. We are trying and have achieved some success but yet there is a long way to go. I would strongly say that before making such recommendations the agencies should also do some research on the realities of the existing system. This will be helpful in smoother implementation of the recommendations.

The traditional lake of Sagar is without any water in it.

We the Political Scientists

Politics and its experts, who explain it in a more scientific manner , known as Political Scientist do share a wider responsibility towards the society. We have developed a large number of courses, curriculms, and have also contributed number of research papers, books and so on. These contributions have shown their implications as well. Politics has changed. Its methods, techniques have undergone radical changes in the last fifty years. This gives us, the political scientists, a real satisfaction. Perhaps, we can sleep properly as we have done our due.
But is this the case? Have we really contributed? Some of these questions were raised by the well known political science figure David Easton, when he questioned the relevance of the behavioural revolution in the discipline. He questioned the feasibility and relevance of natural science type research in Political Science. He said that the political scientists were so busy with the quantitative mthods that they did not realize the emerging tendency of moving away from the social realities.
Same can be said about political scientists today as well, I believe. Of course not all can be placed in this generalization but a majority comes under this category. While preparing our class notes, teaching material and teaching the political theories- manufactured, tested and verified in the west, we have forgotten that there is a tough world outside the realm of formal political science. Most of the theories (and not all) are away from the problems which a common citizen faces due to the politics of the country. In other words, we are busy with explaiing these tendencies but have failed to bring a substantial change.
The whole policy making and implementation paraphernalia is engaged in a serious nexus with the politicians and big business houses. This nexus has pulled small emterpreneurs and other salaried classes in this nexus as well. As a result, we all are in the process of being a part of that nexus -willingly or unwillingly. The nexus has all the powers to manouver the eixsting notions of philosophy, science, history and others that we have almost forgotten how to think for alternative paradigms. We see people dying everyday, not as a routine process of life and death but due to systemic failures, social atrocities, and other structures to carry out violence, but we have accomodated ourselves. 
It is sad to write but it seems that we the political scientists have also started believing in - politics is a bad person's business. But staying away from this will not make us good.  There is a need to stand in defense of politics. Politics which is characterized by deliberation, tolrenace, freedom and justice and not by violance, suppression, inequality and hierarchy.

Caste oppression or discrimination continues across the country in various forms. If I am trying to speak against it, am I mistaken? Yet I have no answer

The Orientation Course

The Feberuary month I spent on the hills of Aravali in Delhi. It was the occassion of an Orientation course at the Academic Staff College, JNU. When I was leaving Lucknow, many thoghts and plans were flonting in my mind, which I drafted in the last one month. I was really excited that I will work for my research and manuscript on Russia. But after one month, I feel I did something else, that is the assessment of the Orientation course.

The UGC guidelines on orientation course defines its objective as: to make the teachers self reliant and familiarize them with the problems of Indian society, economy and so on. I could not understand what does 'self reliance' mean. It gives an impression as if a teacher in the college or university is a parasite who should be taught how to learn on its own.

Secondly, I found it rigid in its second objective. The purpose of a teacher is (or ought to be) to obtain knowledge and to communicate it to the masses in the most effective manner. Understanding problems of any particular society is a part of this exercise. In other words, the process of knowledge is not confined to any country or society. Rather it is universal in nature. The UGC guideline is very much against it.

Though the JNU model of orientation course was somewhat different and interesting (but boring at times as well). The emphasis was to tell the teachers what the education system is and what are the serious challenges before the humankind. However, somehow I found it very vague and haphazard. Of course, it depends on the person who is coming to deliver the lecture as well, yet there can be few points on which the ASC can work upon.

Firstly, it would have been better if the first lecture would have been on the philosophy of knowledge. It would have generated some interest for research in the newly appointed faculties who otherwise have lost interest in reseach and innovation. Web designing was a good idea but it should be modernized. For instance, various softwares in google. blogging, social networking etc. Besides, three or four major fields should be decided in advance, keeping in view the composition of participants. Above all, I would strongly argue that UGC (or whichever new body comes in) should be informed about the problems with the philosophy of the orientation programme. The orientation programme can be a better training exercise for the teachers. I would congratulate JNU ASC for its wonderful endevor.